CHAPTER XXXII

PIETY OF TERENTIUS

TERENTIUS, a general distinguished by his valour and by his piety, was able, on his return from Armenia, to erect trophies of victory. Valens promised to give him every thing that he might desire. But he asked not for gold or silver; for lands, power, or houses; but he requested that a church might be given to those who preached the apostolical doctrines. When the emperor received the petition and read the contents, he was highly irritated, and desired Terentius to ask something else. Terentius picked up the torn fragments of the document, and said, “I have received, O emperor, the gift which I desired, and I shall ask no other. The Judge of all sees and judges my intentions.”